Why Choose Us

Mark Li, MD, PhD, leads a multidisciplinary group of brain tumor specialists who work together to destroy certain tumors that were once considered inoperable, while doing everything they can to preserve healthy brain tissue and function.

Dealing with a neurological condition can be frightening. But you can take comfort in knowing that at Lehigh Valley Health Network's Neurosciences Center, all our health care providers are experts in their field. You will be cared for by specialists who received their medical training at world-renowned hospitals and universities.

We provide a comprehensive approach to meeting your needs by coordinating a team that analyzes all aspects of your care. Within our specialty centers, many of our providers are fellowship-trained in their respective subspecialty areas. They offer the most up-to-date treatments and are dedicated to providing comprehensive physical and emotional care. Some of the resources we offer include: access to clinical trials, rehabilitation therapy, lifestyle modification resources, pain management, mental health services, information sessions and support groups.

Neuroscience services and specialty centers

Advanced neurovascular treatment We diagnose and treat brain conditions such as aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations (AVM) and strokes. We use state-of-the-art treatments to save your life and preserve your neurological functions.

Comprehensive Stroke Center and Primary Stroke Center

In October 2012, Lehigh Valley Hospital became the first stroke center in Pennsylvania, and one of the first in the United States, to earn advanced certification as a Comprehensive Stroke Center by the Joint Commission. This Gold Seal means we offer the highest standard of care for stroke; it recognizes our significant resources in staff and advanced training needed to treat patients with complex strokes in our Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit (NSICU).

In 2004, Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest was the first hospital in the region to be designated a Primary Stroke Center. Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg received that same certification in 2006. A Primary Stroke Center is a hospital that has developed special procedures to rapidly diagnose and treat a stroke.

Next Step

For questions about brain surgery or Gamma Knife or for a referral to a doctor on our treatment team, please call 888-402-LVHN.

Lehigh Valley Health Network treats the highest number of stroke patients in the region using a Stroke Alert program, a rapid triage process that starts with the EMS teams who bring stroke patients to the hospital and allows early testing and prompt evaluation and treatment by a team of emergency and neurology specialists.

Neuro-oncology programOur collaborative and compassionate team will design the best treatment plan for your brain or spinal tumor. Each patient's diagnosis and treatment plan is reviewed by a team of medical specialists that includes physicians from neurosurgery, radiation oncology, medical oncology, neuroradiology and neuropathology. Our team is dedicated to improving both survival and quality of life for people who are diagnosed with central nervous system cancers.

The Advanced Spine CenterWe have a comprehensive team of experts who diagnose and treat complex spine conditions. We are at the forefront of the medical management of chronic back pain and, when necessary, the use of minimally invasive spinal surgery. We use the most advanced devices for complex spinal fusion surgery and are involved in leading-edge clinical research. Our team will ensure you have access to the latest treatments available.

Level I Trauma Center with 24-hour neurosurgery coverage Rapid, expert care is the key to surviving a brain injury. That's why Lehigh Valley Health Network employs the kind of experienced medical staff not available at most medical centers. We are a Level I Trauma Center with 24-hour neurosurgery coverage, staffed by a team of highly-specialized health care providers educated to rapidly respond to even the most severe cases of traumatic brain injury.

Neuroscience intensive care unit In the region's only neuroscience intensive care unit (NSICU), you'll find dedicated medical professionals who have experience caring for patients with brain tumors, neurodegenerative diseases and traumatic spine injuries or spine surgery. Our team of physicians and nurses has extensive training and experience in neurology and critical care – setting us apart from other hospitals. About 85 percent of NSICU nurses are certified as neuroscience registered nurses.

Neurosciences ResearchNeurosciences Research at Lehigh Valley Health Network is dedicated to clinical research in the field of neurology, with expertise in stroke, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, movement disorders and neuropathic pain. Our mission is to provide our community with new knowledge and treatments, through research, in the field of neurology, while maintaining standards of quality and efficiency.

NeuropathologyLehigh Valley Health Network is home to northeastern Pennsylvania's only neuropathologist. He is an expert in identifying the pathology of brain tumors and neurological nerve disorders. Through his evaluation and consultation with the neurosurgical team, physicians determine the right course of treatment for you or your loved one.

Neuropsychiatry expertiseOur neuropsychiatrist is an expert in how disorders affecting the brain can alter personality, mood and other behaviors. Our neuropathologist and neuropsychiatrist are important members of our team.

Awards

Lehigh Valley Hospital earned a Gold Performance Achievement Award with the national Get With the Guidelines-Stroke program. This recognizes the hospital's commitment to ensure stroke patients receive treatment according to the latest medical evidence.

Quality results

The Joint Commission recognizes Lehigh Valley Health Network's hospitals in Allentown and Bethlehem for expertise in stroke care. This means we have a team of caregivers ready to deliver the fastest and most appropriate care for stroke, including the clot-busting medication tPA (tissue plasminogen activator).